TNA fires questions over HSZ in Mutur

The Government’s decision to declare a High Security Zone (HSZ) around the Mutur east area of the Trincomalee district, is to be taken up by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in Courts, amidst a campaign to brief diplomatic missions about the issue.

The TNA met with diplomats from the US, France, Canada, Sweden and India on Thursday and briefed them about the displacement that would take place. The TNA also claims that part of the area is to be used to set up the proposed controversial coal power project. About 15,000 civilians from Tamil populated villages would have to be relocated from 12 Grama Sevaka divisions including Sampur East, Sampur West, Uppural, Paddalipuram, Navaratnapuram, Pallkudiyeruppu, Kaddaiparichchan North and Kaddaiparichchan South.

The High Security Zone was declared in a special gazette notification issued on May 30 with Major General Parakrama Pannipitiya being appointed as the Competent Authority.

According to the gazette any person violating the regulations could be liable to a term of Rigorous Imprisonment for not less than three months and not exceeding five years and a fine of not less than Rs. 500,000. Any vessel found in the area could be confiscated.

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake responding to the adjournment question raised by TNA Parliamentary group leader Mr. R.Sampanthan on Tuesday said the High security zone has been declared due to security reasons and that it cannot reversed.

Mr. .Sampanthan said that he had not been consulted over the declaration of the HSZ though he was an MP representing the district.

At least 19 schools, 27 temples and 88 irrigation tanks fall within this decalred HSZ. The area also has about 2,000 hectares of grazing land for livestock owned by the people in the area. Farming, fishing and livestock breeding are the main sources of income for the villagers.

Mr. Sampanthan told Parliament though the gazette notification mentioned about a schedule it was not very clear. He also called on the government to refrain from implementing the regulations and rescind them.

The villagers from areas that would come under the HSZ are to be relocated in Ralkuli and Kanguveli which are reported to be areas that cannot be used for cultivation and goes regularly under water during the rainy season.

Meanwhile TNA MP K. Thurairathnasingham told The Sunday Times that so far 500 acres of land have been acquired and some houses have been brought down and roads widened for the proposed coal power project. He said according to the government’s plan villagers who once owned several acres of land will now be restricted to owning 10 perches of land.

“We want to know why at least the MPs in the area were not informed about such a drastic decision?” he asked. The move to go ahead with the coal power project in Trincomalee comes as the proposed plant at Norochchoalai is at a standstill with the Chinese delaying its commencement.